The 2020s have been great forhorrormovies so far, including the slasher subgenre. Slasher movies are a horror staple that has seen a revival in recent years, with both remakes of iconic slashers and genre-bending films bringing in new fans to a type of film that has given us a lot of classics. Often filled with jaw-dropping death scenes, bone-chilling suspense, and intriguing mysteries surrounding who or what the killer is, slasher films arehorror classicsfor a reason.
There is a wide variety of slasher movies, ranging from hilarious and thrilling dark comedies to movies with smart social commentary.The best slashers stand out above the restof the competition for different reasons, including but not limited to having aformidable slasher villain, realistic and compelling heroes, and of course, electrifying and unforgettable death scenes.
10Heart Eyes (2025)
Directed By Josh Ruben
Heart Eyesis a unique romantic comedy slasher movie that follows Ally McCabe (Olivia Holt) and Jay Simmons' (Mason Gooding) budding relationship as they’re targeted bya serial killer who brutally murders coupleson Valentine’s Day.
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Plenty of movies before Heart Eyes have offered similar comedy, romance, and themes. A few even shared the same actors and creators.
TheHeart Eyes’cast, in particular, Holt and Gooding, perfectly contrast the titular serial killer Heart Eyes' violent murder spree with their romantic chemistry and comedic chops. Heart Eyes' glowing red heart-shaped eyes and disturbing mask are delightfully creepy, and the serial killer’s willingness to commit gruesome murders makes it an incredible horror comedy film.
Heart Eyes
Cast
In Heart Eyes, two co-workers working late on Valentine’s Day are mistaken for a couple by the infamous Heart Eyes Killer. Directed by Josh Ruben and written by Michael Kennedy and Christopher Landon, the film stars Mason Gooding and Olivia Holt.
WhileHeart Eyesleans more heavily into the romantic comedy genre, the serial killer is still a formidable villain who relentlessly stalks and hunts down couples.Heart Eyes’blend of comedy and horror makes itan entertaining and unique slasher movie, despite the impact of the horror scenes being lightened by the comedic tone.
9Totally Killer (2023)
Directed By Nahnatchka Khan
Totally Killeris a comedy slasher horror following Jamie Hughes (Kiernan Shipka) as she travels back in time after her mother Pam (Julie Bowens) is murdered by the Sweet 16 Killer, who resurfaced after more than 35 years.The Sweet 16 Killer terrorizes the small townand kills three of Pam’s friends before disappearing, and Jamie struggles to fight off the murderer and protect Pam and her friends from the deadly Sweet 16 Killer while in the past.
Totally Killer
Totally Killer is a 2023 comedy horror film by director Nahnatchka Khan (Always Be My Maybe) created for Prime Video. Jamie, a seventeen-year-old, plans to head out for Halloween night thirty-five years after the murder of her mother’s three friends by a serial killer. When Jamie ignores her mother’s pleas and heads out for the night, she becomes targeted by the infamous “Sweet Sixteen Killer.” However, the chase ends with her being sent back in time to the year it all began- and now Jamie will have to team up with her teenage mother to stop the killer and return home before it’s too late.
Totally Killermanages to tug at the heartstrings with a strong opening scene, as Pam valiantly fights back against the killer before being overpowered. Jamie’s grief and rage over her mother’s untimely and violent death are compelling, andTotally Killer’sendinghas a thrilling plot twist.Totally Killerexpertlyblends comedic scenes with a tense and suspense-filled mysteryregarding the Sweet 16 Killer, making it one of the best slasher films of the 2020s.
8Thanksgiving (2023)
Directed By Eli Roth
Thanksgivingis a blood and gore-filled slasher movie followinga relentless killer hunting down a group of teenagerswho inadvertently sparked a deadly Black Friday stampede that resulted in the death of three people. The slasher is a violent and bloody thriller that’s a healthy mix between grisly and fun. The killer’s brutal murders, including the shockingly gruesome death of Kathleen (Karen Cliche), the stepmother of the lead character Jessica (Nell Verlaque), who is cooked alive and served to the horrified hostages.
Thanksgiving
Originally conceived as a parody trailer in 2007’s Grindhouse, Thanksgiving is a 2023 horror-slasher film from director Eli Roth. The movie centers around a serial killer who heads to a small town in Massachusetts that creates a huge event out of Thanksgiving each year with the intent of turning the residents into the main course.
DespiteThanksgivingbeingfilled with gore and horrifying deaths, the most terrifying and bloodcurdling deaths are experienced by minor characters and most of the major characters survive till the end of the film.Thanksgiving’skilleris a terrifying villain, even though they might not be the most effective killer we’ve seen in a movie like that. That said,Thanksgivingwould have ranked higher if the movie wasn’t scared to kill off its main characters.
7Fear Street Part One: 1994 (2021)
Directed By Leigh Janiak
Fear Street Part One: 1994is the first installment of theFear Streettrilogy,based on the book series of the same name written by R. L. Stine. The supernatural slasher film is set in a notoriously dangerous town, Shadyside, and follows a group of teenage friends who attempt to remove the ancient curse plaguing their town and turning their citizens into murderers.
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Fear Street 1994won over audiences with its LGBTQ+ representation, compelling supernatural and slasher plot, and lovable main characters.Fear Street Part One: 1994flawlessly linked the brutal murders haunting the town of Shadyside with its dark history and social commentary.
Fear Street: Part One - 1994
Fear Street: 1994 is the first installment of a trilogy based on R.L. Stine’s book series. Set in the infamous town of Shadyside, the film follows a group of teenagers confronting a malevolent force responsible for a string of gruesome murders, entwining them in a historical struggle against evil.
The smart lead characters were able to fight back against the killers, resulting in exciting and tense chase sequences filled with action and violence.Fear Street Part One: 1994’swell-planned and well-written plotalong with the incredible opening kill scene cemented the movie as one of the best slashers of the early 2020s.
6Scream (2022)
Directed By Tyler Gillett & Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
TheScreamreboot successfully revived theScreamfranchiseand also helped reignite the popularity of slasher horrors. Set 25 years after the events of the originalfilm,the reboot introduced Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera), the daughter of Billy Loomis(Skeet Ulrich), who returns to Woodsboro after her sister Tara (Jenna Ortega) is injured in a Ghostface attack. The fresh, talented cast led by Barrera and Ortega are joined by Neve Campell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette, who reprise their roles from the original films.
Scream
Scream is a 2022 installment in the horror franchise, set 25 years after the original murders in Woodsboro. The film follows a new Ghostface killer who emerges to target a group of teenagers, bringing the town’s gruesome history back into the spotlight.
Screamis a great lesson in how to bring an iconic IP back with interesting new faces that have strong, meaningful connections to the original characters in a way that feels natural with a lot of major franchises failed to do. With an iconic killer hunting the teens down, and its willingness to kill off beloved characters,Screamhas cemented itself as a worthy successorto the original films and as a great slasher film on its own.
5Terrifier 2 (2022)
Directed By Damien Leone
Creepy murderous clowns have gained popularity in horror over recent years, with movies likeItandTerrifierreinforcing the trope of the monster clown. The aptly namedTerrifierfranchise features the antagonist Art the Clown asa demon clown that ruthlessly and brutally murders peopleindiscriminately.
Art the Clown is already an iconic slasher villain who can strike fear into all of our souls, even if you are not scared of clowns.
Terrifier 2is about Art the Clown after he’s resurrected and tries to come for Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera), the teenager who is destined to defeat him. Art the Clown is already an iconic slasher villain who can strike fear into all of our souls, even if you are not scared of clowns.
Terrifier 2
Picking up one year after where the original film left off, Terrifier 2 again sees Art, a serial killer clown, return to Miles County to bring terror and murder. After mutilating the survivor of the first film Victoria Hayes and committing suicide at the end of the first film, Art is brought back from the dead by a mysterious evil being. Newly resurrected, Art sets his sights on two new victims, siblings Sienna and Jonathan, during Halloween. Unfortunately, the two siblings must do their best to survive another terrifying ordeal with an evil that can’t seem to stay dead. David Howard Thornton reprises his role as the titular clown.
While Art the Clown can be killed, his resurrection inTerrifier 2proves that he is still an unstoppable villain who won’t let death stop his gruesome murder sprees and mayhem.The sequel is arguably better than the first movieandembraces the tropes of slashers. That said, the second film is not afraid to push the boundaries of horror, withTerrifier 2’snotorious bedroom scenebeing unforgettable and brutal.
4Abigail (2024)
Abigailis a vampire horror film starring Alisha Weir as the titular character Abigail, who, despite looking like a 12-year-old, is an ancient vampire. The seemingly harmless Abigail is abducted by six criminals and held for ransom. However, things take a turn after Abigail reveals that she isa powerful vampire and begins taking down the kidnappers one by one.Abigailis a refreshing take on the classicvampire movies, filled with fun plot twists and blood-soaked gore.
Abigail
Abigail is a 2024 horror thriller directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The plot follows a group of people who kidnap the daughter of a dangerous crime lord only to discover that the little girl is actually a vicious vampire out for blood. Alisha Weir stars as the titular character alongside Kathryn Newton, Melissa Barrera, and Dan Stevens.
Abigail’s unique and surprisingly sweet dynamic with the former Army medic Joey (Melissa Barrera) is the highlight of the vampire slasher. The unlikely bond between Abigail and Joey is built throughout the movie and provides compelling character motivations for both characters.Abigailisan incredibly gripping and entertaining horror movieand its intriguing premise, strong acting from both leads, and clever ending cements it as one of the best slashers and vampire horror movies of recent years.
3Candyman (2021)
Directed By Nia DaCosta
Nia DaCosta’sCandymanworks as a spiritual sequel and reboot of the 1992 film of the same name, which starred the late Tony Todd. Similar to the original movie,Candymanisa thrilling horror film, and it also serves as a social commentaryon important societal issues. InCandyman,the countless bone-chilling murders aren’t the most horrifying aspects of the horror film, the true horror is the racism and bigotry that led tothe death of Daniel Robitaille and the birth of the Candyman.
Candyman
This sequel to the 1992 movie of the same name follows artist Anthony McCoy as he investigates the urban legend of the Candyman, a hook-handed killer who haunts the impoverished Cabrini-Green housing projects. As McCoy finds himself drawn deeper into the legend of the Candyman, he begins to learn the horrifying truth: the myth is much more dangerous than he ever could have imagined.
Candyman’s tragic backstory and death make him a compelling vengeful antagonist, and the reveal that the Candyman hive consists of innocent Black men who were murdered in racially charged crimes is a horrifying premise that is tragically rooted in reality.Candyman’send credits, the montage of the Candyman hive, perfectly encapsulates the theme of the film and is a chilling reminder of the horrors of reality.
2X (2022)
Directed By Ti West
Xmight have been the beginning of a franchise, but it’s still the best entry in the saga.Xstars Mia Goth in a dual roleas the protagonist Maxine Minx and the antagonist Pearl Douglas, with the film following the cast and crew of a pornographic movie as they arrive at a remote farmhouse owned by an elderly couple.
However, the characters find themselves in a fight to survive whenthe farmhouse owners Pearl and Howard (Stephen Ure) begin killing them one by one, a simple yet perfect premise for a slasher that also includes a few surprises. Goth’s critically acclaimed performance cemented her status as a horror icon, which she would continue to prove in the rest of the franchise.
X
Director Ti West presents X, a horror slasher film set in 1979 in rural Texas that follows a group of amateur filmmakers attempting to shoot a pornographic film.
Pearl and Howard’s violent massacre of the cast and crew is suspenseful slasher perfection. Like the best slasher films,Xutilizes the horror genre to explore themes such as youth, aging, and beauty through the film’s characters.Xbalances the film’s themes and strong characterizations with brutal murders and intense scenes.
1The Invisible Man (2020)
Directed By Leigh Whannell
The Invisible Manis a thrilling subversion of the classic horror genre and isloosely based on H. G. Well’s novelof the same name. It also works asa reboot of the 1933Invisible Manfilm. This version follows Cee Kass (Elizabeth Moss) as she is stalked and harassed by her ex-boyfriend Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), a wealthy scientist who creates a bodysuit that allows him to become invisible.
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The Invisible Manwas a reminder that the best way to approach the Universal monsters was with standalone horror films, not a cinematic universe. While Griffin was always an antagonist with little to no regard for human lives in the original novel, Griffin inThe Invisible Manmovie is a different type of monster. Griffin is an abusive partner who gleefully gaslights Cee and tries to ruin her life.
The Invisible Man
Inspired by H.G. Well’s novel of the same name, The Invisible Man is a modern retelling of the sci-fi horror classic. After narrowly escaping her abusive and powerful tech mogul boyfriend (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss) is relieved to hear of his death. However, she soon becomes convinced that he’s watching her, and little by little, she comes to believe that he’s found a way to not only cheat death but the laws of reality, too.
Similar toCandyman,inThe Invisible Man,the real horror is Griffin’s gaslighting and abusive behavior and the fact that Cee’s concerns are ignored. Despite the lack of murders,The Invisible Manexpertly builds a sense of dread and suspensethroughout the thought-provokinghorrorfilm, making it the best slasher of the 2020s so far.
